Nurse autopsy findings held back

Date: December 12 2012

The results of a post-mortem examination on London nurse Jacintha Saldanha will be kept under wraps until a coroner opens an inquest into the death which came three days after an Australian radio prank.

An examination of the 46-year-old mother of two was completed on Tuesday but the findings will not be made public until released by the coroner, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.

A brief coroner's court hearing into Ms Saldanha's death is due to be mentioned in the English capital on Thursday and adjourned to a later date to allow for the gathering of further information.

Findings "would be announced tomorrow at the inquest", the police source said.

Various British media outlets, including Sky News, have reported Ms Saldanha was "found hanged".

The network said contrary to initial reports Ms Saldanha was unconscious when first reached by emergency services, the nurse was dead when found at staff quarters close to the King Edward VII hospital.

It is understood Ms Saldanha had left a note for her family - husband Benedict Barboza and children Junal, 17 and 14-year-old Lisha.

While the death is not being treated as suspicious by police, a coroner is expected to carefully examine the events leading up to the discovery of Ms Saldanha's body on Friday.

The senior nurse was earlier in the week duped by Australian radio jocks Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who impersonated the Queen and Prince Charles as they sought information about a hospital patient, the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge.

The Sydney-based 2Day FM presenters are expected to be interviewed by NSW Police as part of the coronial investigation.

Both Greig and Christian, along with network management, have extended their condolences to Ms Saldanha's family.

On Wednesday, British tabloid the Daily Star said the hoax could lead 2Day FM workers to jail.

Failing to name the source of its claims, the newspaper refers only to "lawyers in Australia" when reporting that 2Day FM management could be prosecuted for failing to get the hospital's permission to air the recorded conversation.

A public spat has emerged with the hospital denying claims by network management repeated attempts were made to contact the London facility before the prank call was broadcast.

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